From the first 

hot air balloon flight to the first commercial airline, there are

plenty of accomplishments and milestone achievements to celebrate during
aviation history month in November. Aviation history month celebrates the
past achievements and contributions of the people that have led to modern-
day aviation.  

In honor of this celebration, let us look back on the history of aviation, the

Wright brothers, and how it evolved from military applications ('20s-'40s) to
mostly civilians through today.  

How Aviation Got Started 

The history of aviation dates to the 5th century with the invention of kites in
China. The famous artist Leonardo da Vinci created the first drafts for a
rational aircraft in his paintings in the 15th century. In 1647, Tito
Livio Burattini developed a model aircraft featuring four pairs of glider wings.
But it never supported the weight of a person. Later, in 1970, Francesco
Terzi, the Father of Aeronautics, published a theory that showed the
possibility of lighter-than-air aircraft made of copper foil cylinders. 

The discovery of hydrogen in the 17th century led to the development of the
first hydrogen balloon. In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers, including Jacques-
Étienne and Joseph-Michel, flew the first unmanned hot air balloon
over Annonay, France. The same year, they flew a piloted,
tethered hot air balloon with Giroud de Villette, Jean-François Pilâtre de
Rozier, and Jean-Baptiste Réveillon onboard. Later, they launched their first
untethered hot air balloon flight, which flew nine kilometers in about 25
minutes. The hot air balloon became exceptionally popular during the late
18th century, which led to the discovery of the relationship between altitude
and atmosphere. However, the main downside of hot air balloons was a lack
of maneuverability. 

The invention of airships came to solve the issue with hot air balloons.

Unlike hot air balloons, airships used hydrogen or helium gas to lift and were
the first ones to carry passengers over long distances. Alberto Santos-Dumont
was the first person to fly an untethered airship designed with an internal
combustion engine. In 1901, Santos-Dumont launched his airship known as
“Number 6” over Paris in less than thirty minutes. In 1899, Ferdinand von
Zeppelin started building the first Zeppelin airship, which featured two
Daimler engines. In 1902, Leonardo Torres Quevedo launched his version
of The Zeppelin, which dealt with the balancing problems of the first Zeppelin.
However, the fatal crash at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937 marked the end of
the airship era. 

Heavier-Than-Air Aircraft 
Despite the numerous advancements of lighter-than-air aircraft, their
existence was short-lived and overshadowed by the invention of the heavier-
than-air airplane. In 1869, Samuel Pierpont Langley was the first to launch an
unmanned heavier-than-air aircraft on a sustained flight successfully. Langley
was later funded by the US government to create a crewed version of his
heavier-than-air aircraft for purposes of spying on the enemy. However, his
design was not successful. 

The Wright Brothers in the History of Aviation 

Between 1900 and 1902, the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright from
Dayton, Ohio, designed and tested numerous glider and kite models. They
built a wind tunnel and then created various devices to measure the drag and
lift on more than two hundred wing designs. Finally, their third glider was a
success as it outdid its predecessors, which heavily contributed to the
aeronautical engineering field. 

The Wright brothers also worked together to solve the current issue of
controlled, powered flight. They solved the control problem by creating wing
warping for yaw control, roll control, and a steerable rudder. On December
17th, 1903, the two brothers successfully built and launched the
first crewed heavier-than-air flight. This is also the universally recognized date
that launched modern aviation. On that day, they made a total of four flights
in their simple aircraft, with the longest one piloted by Wilbur,
covering 852 feet in 49 seconds.  

In 1906, Alberto Santos-Dumont set the world record by flying his aircraft,

“14-bis,” 220 meters (about twice the length of a football field) in 21.5
seconds over Paris. He also advanced the design by incorporating moveable
parts to the wings to gain lateral stability. Later, in 1908, he started working
with Clement-Bayard company to build the first mass-produced aircraft, the
Demoiselle No. 19. 

How Aviation Evolved from Military Applications to

Civilian 
Aircraft became militarized as soon as it was invented. Italy was the first
country to employ aircraft for military operations. They used airships and
monoplanes to bomb, shell, and transportation during the Turkish-Italian War
in Libya. 

In 1914, Roland Garros attached a machine gun to his aircraft, making him
the first “ace.” And the following year, Kurt Wintgens secured his first aerial
victory using a fighter plane designed with a machine gun. 

Aircraft were first used in active combat on a large scale in World War I. This
played a decisive role in the First World War. France became the
leading aircraft manufacturer during the war, producing over 68,000 airplanes
between 1914 and 1918. During World War II, nearly all nations increased
their production and development of aircraft and flight-based systems. The
military used fighter bombers, strategic bombers, dive bombers, and ground-
attack aircraft. 

The invention of radar technology led to more precise, coordinated, and

controlled deployment. In 1942, Arado Ar 234, the first jet-powered bomber,
was launched. The Second World War also led to the rapid development of
helicopters. By the end of the Second World War, there were airports or
landing strips in many cities and towns. During this period, civil aviation
experienced tremendous growth because military aircraft were repurposed as
personal or airliner planes. 

Revolutionary aircraft designs, for instance, the Douglas DC-3, a reliable all-
metal passenger airplane with rubberized seats to reduce vibrations and
noise-deadening plastic insulation, helped make flying more comfortable and
accessible for new travelers. To standardize the safety, consistency, and
efficiency of civil flights, the Convention on International Civil Aviation was
established in 1944. Standardization of civil flights led to safer, more
affordable airliners run by major carriers.  

Modern Aviation 
Digital adoption and technology techniques in the modern era have seen a
massive advancement in the aviation industry. The release of computer-aided
design and computer-aided manufacturing software in the
1970s facilitated the development of enhanced aircraft designs. Newer
technologies like computer simulations have aided in producing lighter yet
more robust materials for building airplanes. 

Modern aircraft also come equipped with digital systems, eliminating most

analog and mechanical instruments. During the 1980s, cathode-ray displays in
the cockpit were replaced with more advanced computer-based electronic
displays. A notable example was the Boeing 767’s glass cockpit in 1981.
Modern displays, when integrated into automatic pilots, make cockpit
resource management a crucial aspect of flight safety.  

Also, the introduction of composite materials like the one used for building
Boeing 787 Dreamliner has significantly cut down the weight of aircraft,
leading to improved fuel efficiency. Advanced composite has also led to the
development sweeping wing tips that reduce component weight and improves
aerodynamics of an aircraft. 

Conclusion 
The history of aviation is a story filled with the success, failure, and
perseverance of many men and women. Aviation history month of November
is a wonderful time to celebrate the people behind modern-day aviation that
powers a global economy and inspires many people to become aviators. 

Since 1928, Spartan College has been training aviation professionals and

pioneers; we are an aviation college that has a long history of flying high and
standing tall. Spartan has trained over 100,000+ aviation innovators from all
50 United States and over 40 countries. Through our innovative graduates,
Spartan has impacted generations for 93 years, establishing itself as an
industry-leader in aviation and technology-related arenas. It is time your life
reflected your daydreams. Whether you are just starting – or starting over –
Spartan programs inspire you to dream big and work hard to achieve your
goals in aviation.  

“I do not want India to be an economic superpower. I want India

to be a happy country.” - JRD Tata
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was a visionary leader who oversaw the dramatic
expansion of the Tata Group and the industrialisation of India. He aimed to build a
self-reliant, self-sufficient, self-enabled, and self-made India, something he
achieved during his mammoth career at the helm of the Tata Group.
He ventured into sectors such as aviation, chemicals, technology, engineering &
manufacturing, cosmetics, beverages, software services, etc. which gave India the
prowess to add value at scale and build the India he envisioned.